THE lives of 36 people in Somerset were saved thanks to a transplant last year.

Currently many more people in the county are waiting for that life-saving call and if more people agreed to donate organs, then more lives would be saved.

NHS Blood and Transplant is urging more people to talk to their families during Organ Donation Week, which runs until Sunday.

The law was changed in England in May to an 'opt out' system, meaning it is considered you would be willing to donate your organs, unless you have opted out, are in one of the excluded groups or have told your family you do not want to donate.

It is important that people know that you still have a choice and family members will still be consulted before organ donation goes ahead.

Families are more likely to support your organ donation decision, when they already know what you want to happen.

Following the change in law, NHS Blood and Transplant is urging families across Somerset and the rest of the countryEngland to talk about their organ donation decision.

Knowing what your relatives want, helps you support their decision at a difficult time.

More and more families in Somerset are saying yes to organ donation but there is still an urgent shortage of donors.

NHS Blood and Transplant is asking people in Somerset to tell their families they want to donate to help make sure more lives are saved.

Anthony Clarkson, director of organ donation and transplantation for NHS Blood and Transplant, said: "We need more people in Somerset to talk about organ donation to increase the number of lifesaving transplants.

"Even now the law has changed, families will still be approached before organ donation goes ahead.

"So it remains so important to talk to your families and make sure they know what you want to happen.

"Register your organ donation decision on the NHS Organ Donor Register and tell your family the choice you have made.

"If the time comes, we know families find the organ donation conversation with nurses or medical teams much easier if they already know what their relative wanted."

Find out more and register your decision by visiting NHS Organ Donor Register at www.organdonation.nhs.uk and share your decision with your family.